New Zealand Maori name strong team to take on Aboriginals

Former Kiwi prop Craig Smith has come out of retirement to play for the New Zealand Maori against the Australian Indigenous team in the curtain-raiser to the official opening match of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup on Sunday.

Smith, who turns 37 today week (October 31), made 12 test appearances for the Kiwis from 1998-2001 and also played for the Rest of the World against Australia in 1997.

He finished his first-grade career in 2006 after more than 150 NRL matches for South Sydney, Illawarra, St George Illawarra and Newcastle plus 80 games for Wigan in the English Super League from 2002-2004.